---
title: RDS without logging
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > RDS without logging
---

# RDS without logging

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `8d7f7b8c-6c7c-40f8-baa6-62006c6c7b56`

**Cloud Provider:** AWS

**Platform:** Terraform

**Severity:** Medium

**Category:** Observability

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Provider Reference](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/resources/db_instance#enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports)

### Description{% #description %}

When an RDS instance does not have any logging enabled, critical database activities such as errors, slow queries, and general events are not captured or retained. This lack of visibility makes it difficult to detect anomalous behavior, troubleshoot incidents, or comply with auditing requirements. Enabling logging, for example, by setting `enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = ["general", "error"]` in Terraform, ensures that important logs are exported for monitoring and incident response purposes.

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5
  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = ["general", "error"]

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}
```

```terraform
resource "aws_db_instance" "negative1" {
  allocated_storage = 5
  engine            = "postgres"
  instance_class    = "db.t3.small"
  password          = "admin"
  username          = "admin"

  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = ["upgrade"]
}

resource "aws_db_instance" "negative2" {
  allocated_storage = 5
  engine            = "mariadb"
  instance_class    = "db.t3.small"
  password          = "admin"
  username          = "admin"

  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = ["general", "error"]
}
```

```terraform
module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5
  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = ["upgrade"]

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}
```

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
resource "aws_db_instance" "positive2" {
  allocated_storage = 5
  engine            = "postgres"
  instance_class    = "db.t3.small"
  password          = "admin"
  username          = "admin"
  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = []
}
```

```terraform
module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}
```

```terraform
module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5
  enabled_cloudwatch_logs_exports = []

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}
```